Stressing the importance of skill development among the youth, the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that in addition to basic education, development of skills not only helps career progression but also adds value to the organization one works for. She urged youth to join skill development courses to improve job prospects.Speaking at a function organized in connection with the inauguration of Food Craft Institute Jammu at Jagti (Nagrota) here, the Chief Minister said that the institute will be an addition to the tourism infrastructure in Jammu, catering to the needs of skilled manpower in the tourism sector and shall in its own way contribute towards the State Government’s vision of developing Jammu as an independent tourist destination.Also present on the occasion were, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Ms Priya Sethi, Member Parliament, Mr Jugal Kishore, MLA Nagrota, Mr Devinder Rana and MLCs Mr Ramesh Arora and Charanjeet Singh Khalsa.
The Chief Minister complimented the concerned department for having completed the new building in a record time. She also expressed happiness on the fact that the institute is helping contribute to the skill development initiative.
She appreciated the fact that many pass-outs from the institute have already been placed and are earning a living for themselves.Regarding tourism sector in the state, Ms Mehbooba said that J&K has been gifted by nature with beauty and if we are able to tap this potential optimally by enhancing the skills of the youth in tourism industry we shall be able to develop J&K as one of the best tourism destinations in the world. Earlier, the Chief Minister also distributed course completion certificates among some students.Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Food Craft Institute will act as a feeder to the tourism and hospitality industry in the state by providing expert manpower and shall give a boost to the tourism sector.He said that with the opening of premier institutes like IIT, IIM and other similar institutes will help establish Jammu as an educational hub apart from a major tourism destination. Deputy Chief Minister while reiterating the commitment of the government to develop Jammu as an independent tourist destination said that various development projects are underway and these shall help increase tourist footfall in the area.In her address, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi said that the Food Craft Institute is helping to achieve the goals envisioned under ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ programme where the stress has been laid on enhancing the skill and employability quotient of the youth enabling them to seek employment in the tourism sector and food industry.
She said that the institution also offers courses in gardening, landscaping and of tourist facilitators which provide opportunities to the students to explore varied specialized job avenues.The new building of the Food Craft Institute Jammu, has been constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 6 crore. The institute has been carrying out certificate courses, the duration of which varies from 6 days to 6 months. The Institute has been playing a very vital role in the implementation of the “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” scheme by way of enhancing the skills of young boys and girls in the State for their placement in Hospitality Industry.The total number of students who have been trained under “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak” scheme since 2010 till date is around 7500. Many students who have been trained by the FCI Jammu have been placed in the various food chains and hotels. With the shifting of the Institute to the new building, the Institute plans to run one and a half year diploma courses in the coming years.Principal Secretary to CM, Mr Navin K Choudhary, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu, Mr Danesh Rana, Secretary Tourism, Mr Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr Simrandeep Singh, Director Tourism Jammu, Ms Sushma Chauhan and other senior officers of the tourism department were also present on the occasion.